by C.M. Boger — General Analysis
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Hamamelis virginica appears in 9 of the 13 classic books on Similia. Each was written to do a different job — here is what each adds on this remedy, with the opening of its entry.
“Witch Hazel. (Hamamclaceae.) This shrub flowers from September to November, when the leaves are falling. The seeds mature the following summer. It is adapted to venous haemorrhage from every orifice of the body; nose, lungs, bowels, uterus, bladder. Venous congestion; passive, of skin and mucous membranes; phlebitis…”
“Hamamelis Virginica, Linn. Natural order , Hamamelaceæ. Common name , Witch Hazel. Preparation , Tincture of the leaves and twigs. Authorities.”
“Witch-hazel (HAMAMELIS VIRGINICA) Venous congestion, hæmorrhages, varicose veins, and hæmorrhoids, with bruised soreness of affected parts , seem to be the special sphere of this remedy. Acts upon the coats of the veins causing relaxation with consequent engorgement. Passive venous hæmorrhages from any part. Great…”
“VEINS: Rectum. Genitals. Limbs. Throat. Liver. Abdominal and chest walls. Injury. Bruises. Pressure. Air: Open. Humid. Cold. Jar. Motion. Touch. SORENESS, bruised; in blood-vessels; localized; abdominal, etc. Tense, bursting feeling; in piles, joints, or lower limbs. Congestive fulness. Veins, sore; cutting; swelled…”
“H. macrophylla. H. dioica. H. virginica. Witch-hazel. N. O. Hamamelidaceæ. (A shrub growing in all parts of U.S., in damp woods or along streams; flowers in autumn, flowers yellow, the seeds ripen the year following). Tincture of fresh bark of twigs and root. A resinoid, Hamamelin, is also prepared. Abortion…”
“Witch-Hazel. Hamamelaceæ. A shrub growing in all parts of the United States, in damp woods or along streams ; flowers in the Fall, the seeds ripen the year following. The tincture is prepared from the fresh bark of the twigs and root. Introduced by C. Hering, in 1850. Provings by Preston, Burt and McGeorge. See…”
“Common name: witch hazel. Adapted to venous hæmorrhage from every orifice of the body: nose, lungs, bowels, uterus and bladder (Crot-H., Ipec., Lach., Nit-Ac., Phos.) (A.). Small loss of blood causes great amount of prostration (Phos.) (G.). Much weariness; easily gets tired (Carb-An., Chin., Kali-P., Stann.) (G.)…”
“Venous hæmorrhages (very dark and clotted); veins full, enlarged and sore to touch. Hamamelis Virginica is another remedy having the symptom “soreness as if bruised” in a marked degree, and which I did not mention when writing of Arnica. This soreness is sometimes found in rheumatism and Hamamelis has cured when…”
Kent's Repertory lists Hamamelis virginica in 760 rubrics. These are the ones where it carries the highest grade — the symptoms Kent treated as most characteristic. Most of them sit in EXTREMITIES (134), HEAD (83), FEMALE GENITALIA (60), STOMACH (44), GENERALITIES (43).
